We all get asked at some point, “What’s your favorite movie?”
When you identify yourself as “a movie person”, the dreaded question that never fails to get asked is, “So what is your favorite movie?” This question is annoying in many ways and is usually answered with a top five list; or in my case I say, “You really want to go down this road?” and then start firing-off movie title and director for about ten of my favorite movies. This response usually makes the questioner sorry they asked such a seemingly innocent question.
On one side, of course I want to talk about movies. Ask me any movie related question and I’m ready to sit down over a beer or coffee and chat for hours. On the other hand, how am I supposed to boil down my hobby and passion for films into one movie title? If it is something I don’t know much about, I usually can give a straight answer, like what’s my favorite dessert? I can safely say chocolate cheesecake because I’m ignorant to the dessert world.
With that being said, I have learned that it is much easier to just give an answer to this seemingly harmless question than to put everyone off at dinner or to make a promising first-date think that I’m psychotic. Thankfully, I saw a film that was made in 1994 that appealed to me so much that I don’t break out into a sweat when asked this horrific question anymore. I now have an answer to The Question. My favorite movie is Chungking Express (重庆森林), my chocolate cheesecake of movies.
Chungking Express was directed by Wong Kar Wai and released in 1994. It was reportedly written and shot during a break from the laborious filming of his martial arts epic Ashes of Time. The “break from filmmaking” aspect is what I believe makes it the most accessible of all his films. It was written and shot quickly, seeming to be like something of a fun breather for the director and crew to do; to embrace the spirit of making a movie and enjoying themselves at the same time.
The playful yet serious performances from the whole cast that include now mega star Toney Leung, pop icon Faye Wong, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Bridget Lin make this a film that can be watched so many times. There is no special occasion, mood, time of day, or weather outside that needs to be had to make this a great watch. After countless re-watches, I still find myself smiling, laughing, glassy-eyed, and glued to the screen throughout the entire 102 minute runtime.
The film tells the story of four lives in two distinct parts. Each part has a pair of strangers that connect for a period of time, with Faye Wong and Toney Leung getting the majority of the screen time. Each character is unique with his or her own issues and are often heard sharing their private thoughts via narration. Each coming-together highlights the randomness in how we can meet new people that can make meaningful and lasting impressions on our lives.
The romantic ways in which the characters interact and how their stories unfold are unique in the world of cinema. What we have grown to expect in terms of character relationships and the way stories typically play out is put completely aside here. This is a film about the moments that we remember along the way rather than the way things turn out in the end. I remember Sofia Coppola giving thanks to director Wong Kar Wai for partly inspiring her screenplay for Lost in Translation during her academy award acceptance speech. I’m sure she was crediting Chungking Express here.
Immediately after the first time I saw Chungking Express, I knew it changed me and the way I knew and liked movies forever. The cinematography alone (Christopher Doyle, Andrew Lau) is a masterclass in my book. Never before had I seen such images that appealed to my sense of perspective and balance on screen. From the crowded streets of Hong Kong to the confines of Leung’s apartment in the film, each frame is both crowded yet comforting.
It is all so full of life, and there is an undeniable energy that flows through Chungking Express that affects me with every viewing. It inspires the filmmaker within me, as well as reminds me of the importance of connecting with the people in my life; making the most out of those relationships, as they can’t always last as long as we would choose or hope for them to. For me, Chungking Express is unforgettable and I am satisfied to say it is my favorite movie.
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